267
These health effects reveal that some urgent alternating solutions are the need
of time.
Historical Perspective
The history of pesticide usage or manufacturing is dated back to classical Greece
and Rome approximately 79 AD. More information became available in the sixteenth century. The modern synthetic pesticides were developed around World War
II when the insecticidal potential of DDT was discovered in Switzerland and insecticidal organophosphates were developed in Germany. At about the same time work
was in progress in Britain which led to the commercial production of herbicide of
the phenoxy alkanoic acid group. In 1945 the first soil-acting carbamate herbicides
were discovered by British workers and the organochlorine insecticide, chlordane,
was introduced in the USA and in Germany. Shortly afterwards, the insecticidal
carbamates were developed in Switzerland. In 1950–1955, herbicidal urea derivatives were developed in the USA, the fungicide captan and glyodin appeared, and
malathion was introduced. Between 1955 and 1960, newcomers included herbicidal
triazines (Switzerland) and quaternary ammonium herbicides (Britain). Relatively
few new groups of crop protection compounds have been discovered since then. As
mentioned above, post-World War II era saw a boom in the synthetic pesticide production and thousands new compounds had been screened for pesticidal activity [6].
The discovery of DDT and analogues was thought to be miracle and a permanent
solution to pest problem. However, Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1962 was the
first to draw our attention towards the retention and built-up of persistent organochlorine pesticides in the food chain. “Silent Spring” has become synonymous with
the massive poisoning of birds caused by DDT, from eagles to hawks to songbirds.
While DDT is banned in many countries and some affected bird populations are
now beginning to recover, hundreds of bird species continue to be threatened by
other pesticides [7].
Classification of Pesticides
Pesticide is a broader term; it may be used as household dis-infectants, wood preservatives, fungicide, herbicide, rodenticide, and insecticide. Having different identities, physicochemical properties, pesticides can be classified (Fig. 17.1) on the
basis of (1) chemical composition (2) mode of action (3) targeted species [8].
Classification on the basis of their chemical is rather complex yet it gives clue about
physicochemical characteristics of pesticides. These characteristics help to decide
the mode, precautionary measurements, and application rates of pesticides [9].
Generally, pesticides are mostly organic in nature having two basic groups, i.e.,
halogenated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons [10]. Non-systemic pesticides
17 Role of Pesticides as EDCs in Metabolic Disorders
These health effects reveal that some urgent alternating solutions are the need
of time.
Historical Perspective
The history of pesticide usage or manufacturing is dated back to classical Greece
and Rome approximately 79 AD. More information became available in the sixteenth century. The modern synthetic pesticides were developed around World War
II when the insecticidal potential of DDT was discovered in Switzerland and insecticidal organophosphates were developed in Germany. At about the same time work
was in progress in Britain which led to the commercial production of herbicide of
the phenoxy alkanoic acid group. In 1945 the first soil-acting carbamate herbicides
were discovered by British workers and the organochlorine insecticide, chlordane,
was introduced in the USA and in Germany. Shortly afterwards, the insecticidal
carbamates were developed in Switzerland. In 1950–1955, herbicidal urea derivatives were developed in the USA, the fungicide captan and glyodin appeared, and
malathion was introduced. Between 1955 and 1960, newcomers included herbicidal
triazines (Switzerland) and quaternary ammonium herbicides (Britain). Relatively
few new groups of crop protection compounds have been discovered since then. As
mentioned above, post-World War II era saw a boom in the synthetic pesticide production and thousands new compounds had been screened for pesticidal activity [6].
The discovery of DDT and analogues was thought to be miracle and a permanent
solution to pest problem. However, Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1962 was the
first to draw our attention towards the retention and built-up of persistent organochlorine pesticides in the food chain. “Silent Spring” has become synonymous with
the massive poisoning of birds caused by DDT, from eagles to hawks to songbirds.
While DDT is banned in many countries and some affected bird populations are
now beginning to recover, hundreds of bird species continue to be threatened by
other pesticides [7].
Classification of Pesticides
Pesticide is a broader term; it may be used as household dis-infectants, wood preservatives, fungicide, herbicide, rodenticide, and insecticide. Having different identities, physicochemical properties, pesticides can be classified (Fig. 17.1) on the
basis of (1) chemical composition (2) mode of action (3) targeted species [8].
Classification on the basis of their chemical is rather complex yet it gives clue about
physicochemical characteristics of pesticides. These characteristics help to decide
the mode, precautionary measurements, and application rates of pesticides [9].
Generally, pesticides are mostly organic in nature having two basic groups, i.e.,
halogenated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons [10]. Non-systemic pesticides
17 Role of Pesticides as EDCs in Metabolic Disorders